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Output jack

5string5fingers

5string5fingers

Mar 18, 2008
5,133
331
Tifton,Georgia
#1
So the output jack in my American deluxe jazz V seems to be wearing out. Doesn't hold the chord in very tightly, and unless I loop the wire through my strap it can slip out just enough to disconnect and have no signal.

I figured not a big deal, just get a new jack and easy replace.....

Then I took the jack out and saw this monstrosity.

20190105_214222.jpg


Where can I get one of these things?
 
#3
Fwiw those jacks are easy to find, but I doubt you actually need to replace it with same. Those jacks have an isolated double pole switch. That's what all the extra lugs are for. I'd work out if the bass actually needs this type of jack either because of its shape or because the preamp is using those switch lugs. If neither, then a regular stereo switchcraft jack should be fine
 
#6
Either way what I ordered was wrong. I ordered a standard mono switchcraft jack.

Are all these extra wires for the active/passive switch?

I typically dont mess with active stuff, I figured this would have been simple enough, too many wires and I don't have enough knowledge, only thing I've ever worked on are passive p basses.

Excuse the ignorance but why a stereo jack?
 
#7
The third wire (at the jack) goes to the battery. When you put your plug in the jack, the battery is connected to ground turning the preamp on. It acts like a switch. Thats why stereo. You need the extra prong on the jack to make the battery connection.

Edit: i just looked again at your pic. Are there four wires? One hidden behind the right terminal in your pic?
 
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#10
OK, looks like those switch lugs are in use. There may be a way to rewire this to work with a standard jack, but I would recommend just replacing the jack with the same thing. Here in Australia, i can get those from a local shop over the counter.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Perhaps someone will chime in with a source closer to you.

FWIW I've used these in lots of basses and never had the problem you describe. Is the bass new? Was it always like this? Or has it just become like this over time?
 
#11
5string5fingers said:
So the output jack in my American deluxe jazz V seems to be wearing out. Doesn't hold the chord in very tightly, and unless I loop the wire through my strap it can slip out just enough to disconnect and have no signal.

I figured not a big deal, just get a new jack and easy replace.....

Then I took the jack out and saw this monstrosity.

View attachment 3273234

Where can I get one of these things?
Click to expand...
thru Fender ?
 
#12
RobbieK said:
OK, looks like those switch lugs are in use. There may be a way to rewire this to work with a standard jack, but I would recommend just replacing the jack with the same thing. Here in Australia, i can get those from a local shop over the counter.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Perhaps someone will chime in with a source closer to you.

FWIW I've used these in lots of basses and never had the problem you describe. Is the bass new? Was it always like this? Or has it just become like this over time?
Click to expand...

I bought the bass used. It's a 2014, I know the previous owner and it's been well taken care of just played a lot.
 
#13
Good luck. I'd like for like.

13 years ago my mentor insisted that I always loop my cord through the strap every time I plugged in a bass. I remember him saying "You'll never have a jack break or a cord pull out on stage; some day you'll thank me for this." Thanks Dan!!! Just a good habit now. You might consider doing that. Like making sure the outer ferrule is tight on the plugs, I always give them a twist every single time I plug something in. Check both strap ends/connections/screws every time you throw a strap over your head. Thumb-check you zipper before every set. Stuff like that prevents surprises.
 
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#15
bought the bass used. It's a 2014, I know the previous owner and it's been well taken care of just played a lot
Click to expand...

Nice one. Sounds like a keeper!

FYI, notice that six lugs are all orientated one way and the other two are at 90 degrees to these. Well those six lugs (three on each side) are a separate dpdt switch so it's important to test your old jack with a multimeter so that you get the wires to the correct lugs. Don't simply assume that the switching action of the new jack will have the same orientation as the old. You'll have to do this with the other two lugs as well. These are the tip and ring connectors.

As to why fender used this jack in the first place, well I'm not sure. I can only assume it has to do with how the preamp is biased. I've seen a few 18v preamps that switch both batteries at once. If 9v, it could be that the negative battery wire is not at zero volts so can't be switched to earth in the conventional way. So yeah, unless you have some experience with this stuff, it's best to simply replace the jack same for same.

Best of luck with the repair. And let us know how it goes. :thumbsup:
 

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